In vitro antifungal and antibacterial potentials of organic extracts of Avicennia marina collected from Rabigh Lagoon, Red Sea Coasts in Saudi Arabia.

Mangrove shrub Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh was used to test the antifungal and antibacterial activities of aerial fractions in vitro. Aspergillus sp, Candida sp and Gram positive bacteria have all been found to be sensitive to mangrove extracts, whereas Gram negative bacteria have been found to be resistant to them. Agar disc diffusion and well-cut diffusion were employed to conduct antifungal and antibacterial activities. The MICs (minimum inhibitory concentrations) for each assay have been established. Several extracts from Mangrove reduced fungus growth (diameters fluctuated between 11 and 41 mm). The Ethyl acetate fraction showed particularly strong inhibition of C. tropicalis, C. albicanis, and A. fumigatus. They had 41, 40, and 25 mm-diameter inhibition zones, respectively. Nesoral, a synthetic antifungal medication, showed no significant changes in its MICs compared to different extracts. Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis were inhibited by Petroleum Ether extracts at MICs of 0.78 and 0.35 mg/mL, respectively. It is possible that A. marina extracts may be exploited as a viable natural alternative that may be employed in the management of various infections, notably nosocomial bacterial infections, as anti-candidiasis and as anti-aspergillosis agents.

In vitro antifungal and antibacterial potentials of organic extracts of Avicennia marina collected from Rabigh Lagoon, Red Sea Coasts in Saudi Arabia / Potenciais antifúngica e antibacteriana in vitro de extratos orgânicos de Avicennia marina coletados da Lagoa Rabigh, Red Sea Coasts na Arábia Saudita

Mangrove shrub Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh was used to test the antifungal and antibacterial activities of aerial fractions in vitro. Aspergillus sp, Candida sp and Gram positive bacteria have all been found to be sensitive to mangrove extracts, whereas Gram negative bacteria have been found to be resistant to them. Agar disc diffusion and well-cut diffusion were employed to conduct antifungal and antibacterial activities. The MICs (minimum inhibitory concentrations) for each assay have been established. Several extracts from Mangrove reduced fungus growth (diameters fluctuated between 11 and 41 mm). The Ethyl acetate fraction showed particularly strong inhibition of C. tropicalis, C. albicanis, and A. fumigatus. They had 41, 40, and 25 mm-diameter inhibition zones, respectively. Nesoral, a synthetic antifungal medication, showed no significant changes in its MICs compared to different extracts. Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis were inhibited by Petroleum Ether extracts at MICs of 0.78 and 0.35 mg/mL, respectively. It is possible that A. marina extracts may be exploited as a viable natural alternative that may be employed in the management of various infections, notably nosocomial bacterial infections, as anti-candidiasis and as anti-aspergillosis agents.

Arbusto de mangue Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh foi usado para testar as atividades antifúngicas e antibacterianas de frações aéreas in vitro. As bactérias Aspergillus sp, Candida sp e Gram-positivas mostraram-se sensíveis aos extratos de mangue, enquanto as bactérias Gram-negativas mostraram-se resistentes a eles. Difusão em disco de ágar e difusão bem cortada foram empregadas para realizar atividades antifúngicas e antibacterianas. Para cada ensaio foram estabelecidas as CIMs (concentrações inibitórias mínimas). Vários extratos de mangue reduziram o crescimento do fungo (os diâmetros variaram entre 11 e 41 mm). A fração acetato de etila mostrou inibição particularmente forte de C. tropicalis, C. albicanis e A. fumigatus. Eles tinham zonas de inibição de 41, 40 e 25 mm de diâmetro, respectivamente. Nesoral, um medicamento antifúngico sintético, não apresentou alterações significativas em suas CIMs em comparação com diferentes extratos Enterococcus faecalis e Bacillus subtilis foram inibidos por extratos de éter de petróleo em MICs de 0,78 e 0,35 mg/mL, respectivamente. É possível que os extratos de A. marina possam ser explorados como uma alternativa natural viável que pode ser empregada no manejo de várias infecções, notadamente infecções bacterianas nosocomiais, como agentes anti-candidíase e anti-aspergilose.

LAMP-PCR detection of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus species collected from peanut kernel.

Over the last decade, ochratoxin A (OTA) has been widely described and is ubiquitous in several agricultural products. Ochratoxins represent the second-most important mycotoxin group after aflatoxins. A total of 34 samples were surveyed from 3 locations, including Mecca, Madina, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during 2012. Fungal contamination frequency was determined for surface-sterilized peanut seeds, which were seeded onto malt extract agar media. Aspergillus niger (35%), Aspergillus ochraceus (30%), and Aspergillus carbonarius (25%) were the most frequently observed Aspergillius species, while Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus phoenicis isolates were only infrequently recovered and in small numbers (10%). OTA production was evaluated on yeast extract sucrose medium, which revealed that 57% of the isolates were A. niger and 60% of A. carbonarius isolates were OTA producers; 100% belonged to A. ochraceus. Only one isolate, morphologically identified as A. carbonarius, and 3 A. niger isolates unstably produced OTA. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based identification and detection assay was used to identify A. ochraceus isolates. Using the primer sets OCRA1/OCRA2, 400-base pair PCR fragments were produced only when genomic DNA from A. ochraceus isolates was used. Recently, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay using recombinase polymerase amplification chemistry was used for A. carbonarius and A. niger DNA identification. As a non-gel-based technique, the amplification product was directly visualized in the reaction tube after adding calcein for naked-eye examination.

Reproductive performance of anestrous buffaloes treated with CIDR

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and its reuse in treatment of inactive ovaries in buffaloes with subsequent resumption of cyclicity and reduction of inter-calving intervals. This study was conducted on 54 anestrous buffaloes suffering from ovarian inactivity. The animals were treated by new CIDRs and disinfected second used CIDRs for 7 or 14 days and PGF2α, with or without GnRH. The highest estrus induction rate (EIR; 100%), pregnancy rate (PR; 100%) and 1st service conception rate (1st service CR; 83.3%) were achieved with the treatment regime (CIDR 7 days plus i.m. injection of 25 mg of PGF2α in the 6th day plus i.m. injection of 10 µg GnRH in 8th) day followed by the treatment regime (CIDR 14 days plus i.m. injection of PGF2α in the 13th day); where the EIR, PR and 1st service CR were 85.7, 71.4 and 57.1%, respectively. It could be concluded that the use of CIDR 7 days + i.m. injection of 25 mg of PGF2α in the 6th day + i.m. injection of 10 µg GnRH in 8th day is an alternative to restart the ovarian activity in buffalo cows.(AU)

Reproductive performance of anestrous buffaloes treated with CIDR

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and its reuse in treatment of inactive ovaries in buffaloes with subsequent resumption of cyclicity and reduction of inter-calving intervals. This study was conducted on 54 anestrous buffaloes suffering from ovarian inactivity. The animals were treated by new CIDRs and disinfected second used CIDRs for 7 or 14 days and PGF2α, with or without GnRH. The highest estrus induction rate (EIR; 100%), pregnancy rate (PR; 100%) and 1st service conception rate (1st service CR; 83.3%) were achieved with the treatment regime (CIDR 7 days plus i.m. injection of 25 mg of PGF2α in the 6th day plus i.m. injection of 10 µg GnRH in 8th) day followed by the treatment regime (CIDR 14 days plus i.m. injection of PGF2α in the 13th day); where the EIR, PR and 1st service CR were 85.7, 71.4 and 57.1%, respectively. It could be concluded that the use of CIDR 7 days + i.m. injection of 25 mg of PGF2α in the 6th day + i.m. injection of 10 µg GnRH in 8th day is an alternative to restart the ovarian activity in buffalo cows.